Marko Kešelj (Serbian Cyrillic: Марко Кешељ, born January 2, 1988) is a Serbian politician and retired professional basketball player serving as a member of the National Assembly of Serbia since 1 August 2022. He is also a presidency member of Crvena zvezda. He represented the Serbian national team in the international competitions. He is a 2.08 m (6'10") tall small forward.[1]
Marko Kešelj | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Kešelj with Crvena zvezda in 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the National Assembly of Serbia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 1 August 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President | Vladimir Orlić | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basketball career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crvena zvezda mts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Presidency member | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
League | Basketball League of Serbia Adriatic League EuroLeague | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1988-01-02) January 2, 1988 (age 34) Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Serbian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 94 kg (207 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 2010 / Undrafted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2004–2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Small forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 4, 6, 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004–2006 | Avala Ada / Mega Ishrana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006–2007 | Akasvayu Girona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007–2008 | Köln 99ers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008–2010 | Crvena zvezda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2012 | Olympiacos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012–2013 | Valencia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | Le Mans Sarthe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013–2014 | ASVEL Basket | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2015 | Mega Vizura / Leks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | Lavrio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016–2017 | Oostende | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2019 | Crvena zvezda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Kešelj started his career in his hometown with a club called Mega Ishrana. Despite his young age, Kešelj already has the experience of playing for two top-quality foreign clubs, the Spanish ACB League club Akasvayu Girona and the German League club Köln 99ers. During the summer of 2006, his talents were spotted by Serbian coach Svetislav Pešić, who brought him to Girona in the Spanish ACB League at the age of 18.
However, Kešelj could not establish himself in the squad and got very little playing time. In the summer of 2007, he transferred to the German League to the Köln 99ers, which were led by another Serbian coach, Saša Obradović. Following a so-so season, Obradović left to coach Kiev, and Kešelj also started looking for a transfer.
Upon rumors that Pešić, his mentor from his Girona days, might be taking over Crvena zvezda, Keselj decided to sign with the club during the summer of 2008, even before Pešić's arrival had become official. In 2010, he signed a 3-year contract with the Greek League club Olympiacos.[2] With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague and Greek League championships in 2012.[3]
On August 14, 2012, Kešelj signed one-year contract with Valencia.[4] On February 5, 2013, he left Valencia and signed with Le Mans Sarthe Basket for the rest of the season.[5] On August 8, 2013, he signed a one-year contract with ASVEL Basket.[6]
On October 14, 2014, he signed an open contract with the Serbian team Mega Vizura.[7] On June 17, 2015, it was confirmed that Kešelj will play with the Portland Trail Blazers at the 2015 NBA Summer League.[8]
On January 6, 2016, Kešelj signed with the Greek club Lavrio for the rest of the 2015–16 Greek Basket League season.[9] On September 18, 2016, Kešelj signed with Belgian club Telenet Oostende.[10]
On July 28, 2017, Kešelj returned to Crvena zvezda, signing a two-year deal.[11] On January 4, 2019, he scored 20 points for the night and his 1,000th point for the Zvezda.[12][13]
Kešelj was a member of the Serbian junior national teams, and he played at the 2007 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Novi Sad and at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. Kešelj was also a member of the senior Serbian national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, where Serbia was defeated by Lithuania, in the game for the bronze medal. He was also capped for the national team of Serbia at the EuroBasket 2011, in Lithuania, where Serbia finished in 8th place.
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance Index Rating |
Bold | Career high |
† | Denotes seasons in which Kešelj won the EuroLeague |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
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2010–11 | Olympiacos | 12 | 3 | 12.3 | .476 | .435 | .500 | 1.0 | .2 | .3 | .3 | 3.8 | 2.1 |
2011–12† | Olympiacos | 14 | 8 | 15.7 | .396 | .270 | .600 | 2.0 | .3 | .4 | .0 | 3.9 | 2.4 |
Career | 26 | 11 | 14.1 | .425 | .333 | .538 | 1.5 | .2 | .4 | .1 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
In August 2020, Kešelj was appointed as a presidency member of Crvena zvezda in charge of the sport issues.[14] He was re-elected for 5-year term on 27 December 2021.[15][16]
Kešelj will appear on the Together We Can Do Everything ballot list for the 2022 general election, as an independent candidate.[17] Following the election, Kešelj was elected to the National Assembly as MP.[18]
Kešelj owns and operates a blueberry orchard.[19]
Košarkaški klub Crvena zvezda | |
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Saporta Cup winners | 1974 |
ABA Championships |
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